Articles

A digital automated health monitoring system for oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: practical issues and lessons for the future

BJMO - volume 15, issue 6, october 2021

J. Robijns PhD, J. Lodewijckx MSc, K. Wijnen PhD, S. Snoekx MSc, R. Hilkens RN , S. Bortels RN , H. Lenders RN , W. Nassen RN , E. Dewaele MD, D. Luyten MD, E. Joosens MD, A. Requilé MD, Y. Verheezen MD, T. Wessels MD, P. Bulens MD, J. Mebis MD

SUMMARY

During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with cancer are subject to multiple risks (e.g., frequent hospital visits, increased infection risk, more severe clinical course, discontinued cancer treatment). Patients undergoing cancer therapy can face quality of life (QoL) – impairing side effects. Both for COVID-19 positive and negative patients who will continue or discontinue cancer treatment throughout the pandemic, providing supportive care is more important than ever. Digitally monitoring patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) could offer a solution to improve the supportive care during cancer treatment, and certainly in times of COVID–19.

A prospective cohort trial was performed between August 2020 and February 2021 at the Jessa Hospital (Hasselt, Belgium), evaluating the feasibility and usability of a digital patient monitoring (DPM) system to collect PROMs of oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on available evidence from our trial, digitalised PROMs could significantly contribute to improved communication, patient satisfaction, supportive care, monitoring cancer treatment, and detecting problems. However, the DPM system needs fine-tuning to lead to a patient and healthcare worker-friendly system, fully incorporated in the electronic health records without losing the personal contact between patient and healthcare team.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2021;15(6):292-303)

Read more

O.07 EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS TRAINING ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND DISTRESS IN CANCER PATIENTS

BJMO - volume 12, issue 3, february 2018

J. Mebis MD, S. Censabella , S. Engels , Guy Orye , S. Marquette MD, C. Van Narsenille , L. Vansteelant MD, L. Noé MD, A. Maes MD, P. Bulens MD, D. Luyten MD, E. Joosens MD

Read more

P.18 QUALITY OF LIFE, FATIGUE, AND SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IMMEDIATELY AND 6 MONTHS AFTER ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

BJMO - volume 12, issue 3, february 2018

J. Mebis MD, S. Censabella , S. Engels , C. Van Narsenille , Guy Orye , S. Marquette MD, L. Vansteelant MD, L. Noé MD, A. Maes MD, P. Bulens MD, D. Luyten MD, E. Joosens MD

Read more

New medical treatments in thyroid cancer

BJMO - volume 8, issue 3, july 2014

L. Decoster MD, PhD, F. Cornélis MD, E. Joosens MD, S. Henry MD, P. Specenier MD, PhD, P. Clement MD, PhD, On behalf of the Thyroid Task Force of the BSMO

Thyroid cancers are rare diseases and include types that range from indolent localised differentiated carcinomas to fulminant and lethal anaplastic disease. Until recently, treatment options for advanced or metastatic radio-iodine refractory thyroid cancer were limited. Recently kinase inhibitors targeting angiogenesis and other pathways have shown promising activity.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2014;8(3):81–6)

Read more